Donald Trump is facing an impeachment investigation after a phone call made to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was publicly released by the White House. Most Americans say they understand what impeachment is, but less than a third can define it correctly, according to businessinsider.com. As the impeachment process unfolds, it is important for Americans to understand what is happening in their government, according to businessinsider.com. 

By common myth, people believe impeachment would completely remove the president from office. Instead, impeachment is the formal word for filing charges. The House of Representatives impeaches, then the Senate holds a trial on whether or not these charges mean someone should not be allowed to run for federal office. The Senate’s vote has to win by a two-thirds majority, and their vote is final.

Only two presidents have been impeached in the history of Republic Democracy, the closest to our generation being Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998. Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868 after racist claims being made against him during the civil war, according to time.com.

“The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law,” Nancy Pelosi said.